Category Archives: TUIfly Nordic

Robot Assistant has job description and personal goals – just as every TUI employee

The humanoid robot commonly known as “Pepper“ is the latest employee to be hired by TUI Nordic. Pepper, named Pepper 2E, will work as a Robot Assistant and be a part of TUI’s new Data Analytics and Machine Learning team. TUI is the first travel company in the world to incorporate robotics in this way.

“Automation, AI and Robotics are important elements of TUI’s future. We already have some of the best specialists in this field and I am excited to see how Pepper 2E will contribute to our team. And most importantly, I hope he sparks curiosity and engagement with all of our TUI Nordic colleagues”, says Alexander Huber, Managing Director of TUI Nordic.

Pepper 2E started on August 14, 2018 and will primarily be based in TUI’s Stockholm office. The humanoid robot has a detailed job description as well as set “personal” goals he will be evaluated on, just as any regular TUI employee. The main responsibility of the Robot Assistant is to inspire innovation, curiosity and technological pioneering. Furthermore, the Robot Assistant will help visitors as well as colleagues and external customers with everyday questions and problems.

Elke Eller, HR Director of TUI Group and Member of the Board says: “As TUI Group, we are shaping the future of travel in many areas. Employees like Pepper 2E can support our teams. At the same time they give us an impression of what the work of the future might look like. The “hiring” of Pepper 2E stands for curiosity about the future and openness for new technologies. These are important prerequisites for the success of the digital transformation of TUI. Välkommen, Pepper!”

As a true TUI employee, Pepper 2E will go through the usual steps of onboarding. He has a manager to report to and is member of a team that will incorporate him in their day-to-day tasks. He will spend the first few months hovering around the office getting to know the company and his new human colleagues.

TUI fly’s sustainability strategy remains on its successful path. This is demonstrated by this year’s progress report on TUI fly’s environmental statement, providing information on the progress delivered by the environmental programme in the framework of EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) certification.

Average jet fuel consumption was reduced to 2.52 litres per one hundred passenger kilometres. Moreover, the independent climate protection organisation atmosfair again rated TUI fly as Germany’s most climate-efficient airline.

Its overall global rating is also remarkable: TUI fly has again been named one of the world’s top airlines, ranking third on the global list. The pole position is held by its British sister airline TUI Airways.

“Our flights are already 27 percent more climate-efficient than those operated by the six largest European airline. We are committed to continuing these efforts in order to further optimise the climate efficiency of our flights. We thus render a significant contribution towards delivering TUI Group’s “Better Holidays, Better World” sustainability strategy, aimed at reducing the ecological footprint and promoting people and regions in the destinations”, said Roland Keppler, CEO TUI fly.

Numerous measures have also been launched on the ground to ensure environmentally-friendly operations. In this context, TUI fly has now launched charging stations for electric vehicles at the employees’ car park at the head office – in cooperation with the energy utility Enercity. “In order to ease the start into e-mobility for our employees, they can charge their electric cars free of charge at these stations. We will also convert our vehicle fleet.

To that end, we are currently exploring the launch of electric vehicles for aircraft maintenance at the apron,” said Roland Keppler. TUI fly’s environmental programme includes measures for 18 destinations. It ensures the continuous transformation to more environmentally friendly operations covering all business areas.

The new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft (above) launching in 2019 will contribute towards that goal. TUI Group already operates five aircraft of the latest generation of 737s. At 16 percent, they have even exceeded expectations regarding fuel and emissions savings.

TUI on February 26 proudly welcomed the first ever Boeing 737 MAX 8 (SE-RNA, msn 44589) delivery flight on bio jet fuel, an important part of TUI’s commitment to the future of sustainable aviation. The flight from the Boeing manufacture in Seattle to Stockholm was performed with 30% blend biofuel.

The pictured SE-RNA is named “Rhodes Colossus”.

This was one of the most carbon-efficient flights ever accomplished by this aircraft type. The 737 MAX 8 was the second delivery of this aircraft to the world’s leading tourism business, this time to TUI Nordic.

One month ago the TUI Group welcomed its very first 737 MAX 8 at TUI Belgium in Brussels. Both aircraft are the initial deliveries of a large fleet renewal at TUI Airlines with a total 72 aircraft and to be completed by 2023.

The massively successful 737 MAX is considered the latest in aviation technology. This aircraft type has 14 percent lower kerosene consumption and therefore 14 percent lower carbon emissions compared to the aircraft of this size previously operated by TUI fly. The aircraft has also a 40 percent smaller noise footprint supporting TUI’s commitment in aviation to sustainability. TUI Group have made a significant investment in their aviation segment and ordered a total of 72 new 737 MAX 8 and 10´s.

LONG TERM COMMITMENT

A more sustainable approach to aviation is an important part of TUI’s long term sustainability strategy – Better Holidays, Better World. TUI aims to operate Europe’s most carbon efficient airlines and reduce the carbon intensity of its operations by a further 10% by 2020. TUI is currently looking into suppliers in the Nordics as well as in Europe and is in the process of developing a sustainable aviation fuels strategy.

“Biofuel represents a significant opportunity for reducing aviation’s carbon footprint and achieving its environmental goals. Our collaboration with TUI in 2015 on the Boeing ecoDemonstrator Program included testing of biofuel, and this 737 MAX delivery flight is a further demonstration of TUI’s interest in bringing price competitive biofuel to market”, said Sean Newsum, director of environmental strategy at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

By the end of 2018, a total of nine 737 MAX 8 will be delivered to the airlines of TUI Group. These aircraft will be operated by TUI in Belgium, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The first 737 MAX for TUI fly Germany is scheduled to be delivered in early 2019. TUI Group has ordered the 72 new aircraft in total to renew its narrow-body aircraft fleet by 2023 according to the current planning.

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) and TUI Group, one of the world’s largest integrated leisure travel companies, have finalized an order for one 787-9 Dreamliner with an option for one further 787-9. The order is valued at $257 million at current list prices. TUI Group also announced that it will substitute two unfilled orders for 787-8s for two 787-9s.

The European leisure group will operate a fleet of 13 787-8s from this summer and with today’s announcement will add three 787-9s to its fleet within the next three years.

The 787-9 complements and extends the 787 family. With the fuselage stretched by 6 meters (20 feet) over the 787-8, the 787-9 will fly up to 40 more passengers an additional 830 kilometers (450 nautical miles) with the same exceptional environmental performance – 20 percent less fuel use and 20 percent fewer emissions than the airplanes they replace.

There are six airlines in the TUI Group operating 144 medium and long-haul aircraft, including the 787. The airlines are TUIfly, Thomson Airways, TUIfly Nordic, Jetairfly, Corsair International and ArkeFly (Arke), serving more than 180 destinations around the world. Throughout its history, Boeing has delivered more than 165 airplanes to TUI Group airlines. As well as the orders for 787s, TUI Group also has ordered 60 737 MAXs.

In addition to TUI Group’s selection of the efficient 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX, TUI Group is a partner on the Boeing ecoDemonstrator 757, which is currently testing new technologies to reduce airplane carbon emissions and noise.

Videos: The Thomson Boeing 787-8.

Video: Flight review: Thomson Boeing 787-8 to Puerto Plata: This is a flight review of our Thomson Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flight to Puetro Plata (Gregorio Luperón International Airport) in the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. We flew in economy class called “Dreamliner Class” on the Dreamliner. All footage of the journey is filmed from the economy class cabin. Our flight crew was mainly British with a Scandinavian stewardess on board too. Our Thomson Airways Dreamliner (Boeing 787-8) had registration number G-TUIA and was named “Living the Dream”. Our flight started at Copenhagen Airport in Denmark and the aircraft passengers where mainly Scandinavians (Swedish and Danish nationality). Our charter holiday trips where booked via Star Tour (name for TUI in Denmark) (Fritidsresor as TUI are called in Swedish) which is the same as TUI travel in the UK and Germany.

Boeing (Chicago) and TUI Travel PLC (London) announced a commitment today for 60 737 MAX airplanes, valued at $6.09 billion at list prices. The commitment by one of the world’s leading leisure travel groups includes 737 MAX 8s and 9s. Boeing looks forward to working with TUI Travel to finalize the details, at which time the order will be posted as a firm order to the Boeing Orders and Deliveries website.

“A major part of TUI Travel’s strategy is to provide our customers with unique holiday experiences that they can only get from us,” said Peter Long, Chief Executive, TUI Travel. “This multi-billion pound investment in the Boeing 737 MAX – representing the future generation of more fuel-efficient aircraft for our short and medium-haul programs – will be a further driver in delivering this.”

Top Copyright Photo: Rob Skinkis/AirlinersGallery.com. The new aircraft will replace the current generation of Boeing 737-800s. Thomson Airways’ 737-8K5 WL G-TAWK (msn 28836) is pictured at Manchester in the new TUI colors (please click on the photo for the full-size view).

Arkefly:

Corsair International:

Jetairfly:

Thomson Airways:

TUIfly:

TUIfly Nordic:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Ole Simon. TUIfly was ranked the most fuel-efficient charter airline worldwide for short-haul and long-haul flights in the 2012 Airline Index published by the German environmental NGO, atmosfair, indicating how TUIfly’s investment in modern, more fuel-efficient aircraft and focus on efficient aeronautical procedures are yielding results. Thomson Airways came second for most efficient charter airline for short haul flights. TUIfly’s (TUIfly.com) Boeing 737-8K5 WL D-ATUD (msn 34585) in the special Haribo Goldbaren scheme climbs away from Frankfurt (please click on photo for full-size view).